The Pittsburgh Pirates' starting rotation took a hit on Saturday as it was revealed that right-hander Johan Oviedo will undergo Tommy John surgery, a source told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Jason Mackey.
Oviedo was expected to be one of the anchors of the Pirates' rotation entering next season after he put together a solid 2023 campaign with the club.
The 25-year-old pitched a career-high 177 2/3 innings, far exceeding his previous season high of 62 1/3 frames. He authored a 4.31 ERA and 1.37 WHIP in 32 starts, which included one complete-game shutout and a league-leading 13 hit-by-pitches.
With Oviedo out of the picture, the Pirates are projected to use a starting five of Mitch Keller, Luis L. Ortiz, Bailey Falter, Quinn Priester, and Roansy Contreras, although additions could be made in free agency or via offseason trades.
